Leading global supplier Bosch has joined hands with premium Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Qingling Motors to establish a joint venture in China. The new entity, called Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing), will develop, assemble and market fuel cell systems – Fuel Cell Power Modules – for the Chinese market.
The Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 2.0 by the China Society of Automotive Engineers (China-SAE) estimates that over one million vehicles with fuel cell drive systems could be registered in China by 2030.
One of the primary goals of the JV is to pool the technology and market expertise of both partners and contribute to the development of the Chinese fuel cell market and the transformation of the automotive industry there, a company release stated.
The JV aims to provide all Chinese vehicle manufacturers with fuel cell systems. Bosch will supply some of the critical components required for fuel cell systems, including fuel cell stack, air compressor with power electronics, and control unit with sensors, from its plant in Wuxi. The company noted that small-scale production will start there this year.
While the market launch of the fuel cell system is planned for 2022-23, a test fleet of 70 Qingling trucks equipped with Bosch's Fuel Cell Power Module will hit the road this year.
“We are now literally picking up speed in the industrialisation of the fuel cell. Innovative technologies and strategic partnerships are the ideal fuel for rapidly achieving the goal of making road traffic as climate-neutral as possible,” said Stefan Hartung, Bosch board of management member and chairman of the Mobility Solutions business sector.
“For large, heavy vehicles that travel long distances, the fuel cell offers clear advantages over the battery-electric powertrain,” said Hartung.
Building Competencies
Over the years, Bosch has developed development and application competences with its fuel cell activities in China, including the fuel cell centre in Wuxi. The company would now prepare the necessary manufacturing capacities for the components that will be supplied to the new JV.
Bosch is also driving forward the industrialisation of the fuel cell at its German locations in Bamberg, Feuerbach and Homburg. Together with the Swedish specialist Powercell, Bosch is currently developing the fuel cell stack to be market ready, in order to start large-scale production on its own from 2022 onwards.